South Korea’s defense minister declared a commitment to substantial retaliatory missile strikes targeting “the heart and head” of North Korea if provoked.
The heightened tensions stem from recent spy satellite launches by both nations. South Korea’s Defense Minister Shin Wonsik, during a visit to the army’s missile strategic command, directed command officers to maintain readiness for firing precision-guided and powerful missiles at any moment. The primary objective, as stated by Shin, is to “lethally strike the heart and head of the enemy.”
This stern warning follows a breach of U.N. bans by North Korea through its military reconnaissance satellite launch on November 21. South Korea, the U.S., and Japan strongly condemned the action, viewing it as an effort by North Korea to enhance its missile technology and establish a space-surveillance system.
In response, South Korea announced plans to resume front-line aerial surveillance, leading to North Korea restoring border guard posts, breaching a 2018 inter-Korean deal on easing military tensions.
As tensions escalate, the national security advisers from South Korea, the U.S., and Japan convened in Seoul to discuss evolving nuclear threats. Ahead of the trilateral meeting, South Korean and Japanese national security advisers reaffirmed the need to strengthen cooperation with the U.S. to address provocations by North Korea.
Cho Tae-yong and U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan also affirmed openness to diplomacy with North Korea. Concurrently, South Korea’s Unification Ministry accused North Korea of property rights infringements, further contributing to the complex diplomatic landscape.
