(LEAD) Defense chief warns N. Korea of 'hell of destruction' in event of reckless acts

▲ Defense Minister Shin Won-sik speaks during a meeting of top military commanders at the defense ministry's headquarters in central Seoul on Dec. 13, 2023, in this photo provided by his office. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

▲ Defense Minister Shin Won-sik (3rd from L, rear) presides over a meeting of top military commanders at the defense ministry's headquarters in central Seoul on Dec. 13, 2023, in this photo provided by his office. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

(LEAD) defense chief-NK threats

(LEAD) Defense chief warns N. Korea of 'hell of destruction' in event of reckless acts

(ATTN: UPDATES with more details from 4th para; REPLACES, ADDS photo)

By Chae Yun-hwan

SEOUL, Dec. 13 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's defense chief warned North Korea on Wednesday only a "hell of destruction" awaits the country if it carries out "reckless" actions amid heightened tensions after Pyongyang scrapped a 2018 inter-Korean military agreement.

Defense Minister Shin Won-sik made the warning during a meeting of top military commanders after the North vowed last month to restore all military measures halted under the pact designed to reduce tensions and prevent clashes along the border.

"North Korea has only two choices -- peace or destruction," Shin said. "If North Korea makes reckless actions that harm peace, only a hell of destruction awaits them."

"Our military must clearly imprint this on North Korea."

Last month, Pyongyang scrapped the 2018 agreement, signed under the previous liberal Moon Jae-in government, after Seoul partially suspended the deal in protest of the North's launch of its first military spy satellite on Nov. 21.

The agreement called for measures such as banning military drills and maneuvers near the land and sea borders, disarming the Joint Security Area (JSA) at the truce village of Panmunjom and withdrawing guard posts inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas.

Since scrapping the accord, the North has begun reinstalling guard posts and deploying heavy arms within the DMZ, according to the South's defense ministry. North Korean soldiers in the JSA have been seen carrying pistols, according to people familiar with the matter.

Shin criticized the Moon administration's peace initiative, describing it as "fraud."

"'The Korean Peninsula peace process,' which relied on North Korea's goodwill and surreal optimism, was completely fake," he said. "It would not be an exaggeration to describe it as a well-planned fraud."

Shin called for educating troops for a strong combat mentality, describing it as the source of strength for Ukraine and Israel in their conflicts, according to his ministry.

During the meeting, the participants discussed ongoing and planned defense efforts, such as deploying more satellites and expanding trilateral security cooperation with Washington and Tokyo against North Korean threats, the ministry said.

Earlier this month, South Korea's first homegrown spy satellite entered orbit after being launched from the U.S. Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Seoul plans to place five spy satellites into orbit by 2025 to boost its surveillance capabilities.

The participants also discussed efforts to strengthen the "three-axis" deterrence system, such as the launch of a strategic command next year to establish a system for South Korea-U.S. joint nuclear and conventional operations, the ministry said.

The three-pronged system refers to the Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation, an operational plan to incapacitate the North Korean leadership in a major conflict; the Kill Chain pre-emptive strike platform; and the Korea Air and Missile Defense system.

Meanwhile, Adm. Kim Myung-soo, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was set to preside over a meeting of top military officers to assess North Korean military threats, according to the ministry.

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