South Korea voices concerns over DPRK

SEOUL - South Korean President Park Geun-hye on Monday voiced her concerns about growing possibility for reckless provocation from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) following the execution of Jang Song-Thaek, uncle of leader Kim Jong Un and the DPRK's No. 2 man.

"Given the recent series of occurrences in North Korea (DPRK), it became opaque how the North Korean situation will develop. Unexpected accidents such as reckless provocation cannot be ruled out," Park said during a meeting with senior presidential secretaries.

Park said the government should have a thorough grasp of whether the DPRK may seek to cause disorder in South Korea, urging the secretaries to make efforts to prevent people from feeling uneasy.

Her comments came after Jang Song-Thaek, uncle of DPRK leader Kim Jong Un and vice chairman of the DPRK's top military body, was executed on December 12.

The DPRK's special military tribunal convicted him of committing "unforgivable crime as traitor." He was stripped of all posts and titles after an enlarged meeting of the Political Bureau of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) Central Committee on December 8.

Park instructed the secretaries to closely monitor the DPRK's situations and prepare for all possibilities, saying that defense readiness should be strengthened especially in the so-called "five islands on the west coast," the disputed maritime border with the DPRK.