South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has promised to punish North Korea "several times stronger" if it carries out a provocation.
South Korea reacted harshly to Kim Jong-un's threats
This situation developed against the background of statements by the leader of North Korea, Kim Jong-un, about the need to define the southern neighbours as "the main and unchanging enemy".
During a parliamentary session on Monday, Kim Jong Un called for the country's constitution to be revised to codify a new definition of South Korea and North Korea's commitment to "totally occupy" South Korean territory in the event of war.
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol reacted sharply to this statement. He emphasized that the current South Korean government is different from any other.
Our armed forces have an overwhelming response capability. If North Korea provokes us, we will punish them several times harder, Yoon Suk-yeol emphasised.
He notes that Kim Jong-un had committed a "political provocation" when he said he would not recognise the Northern Demarcation Line, which is the de facto border between the countries.
The usual tactic of peace in disguise, threatening a choice between war and peace, will no longer work. The false peace we earn by succumbing to threats of provocations will only put our security in even greater danger, the South Korean president added.
North Korea's policy towards South Korea
As we reported the day before, North Korea plans to update the status of South Korea in the constitution.
Before that, Kim Jong-un called South Korea the main enemy and threatened to "turn it into ashes."
Earlier, North Korea launched a ballistic missile again. The European Union strongly condemned this launch.
