ROK to bolster defense readiness

SEOUL - South Korea's defense ministry said Wednesday it will strengthen defense readiness to counter possible provocation by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), especially in the wake of the death of its top leader Kim Jong-il.

"There remains a possibility of DPRK provocation in the process of building a regime led by (the DPRK's new leader) Kim Jong-un," the defense ministry said in a report submitted to President Lee Myung-bak.

In 2012, South Korea's military will further bolster its defense of border islands and draw up joint plans with the United States to deter the DPRK's localized provocation, the defense ministry said in the report.

The military will also introduce new equipment, such as artillery hunting radars and guided-missile patrol boats, to raise its preparedness.

Once attacked, the military will "pulverize the enemy's will" to wage aggression by striking the enemy, the source of its provocation and its supporting forces, the report added.

The military was put on alert following the death of Kim Jong-il on December 17 last year, but it stopped short of raising the border surveillance status so as not to unnecessarily provoke the DPRK.