SEOUL: The head of South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) has emphasized the importance of maintaining a vigilant and seamless readiness posture in response to possible provocations from North Korea. The call to action comes amid heightened tensions and political instability in South Korea, which could be exploited by Pyongyang.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Admiral Kim Myung-soo communicated this directive during conversations with commanding officers from key operational units. These included the general outpost (GOP) battalion commander at the Army's 25th Infantry Division and the commanding officer responsible for the Yeonpyeong unit, which oversees the western border islands. In these discussions, Adm. Kim underscored the necessity of deterring North Korean threats through a robust operational stance and emphasized the importance of strong retaliation should provocations occur.

The timing of Adm. Kim's statements is particularly significant, as they come amidst fears that North Korea might seek to capitalize on South Korea's current political turmoil. The crisis was ignited by President Yoon Suk's unsuccessful attempt to declare martial law on December 3. The potential for North Korean aggression during this period of uncertainty has raised concerns among military and government officials in South Korea.