Gen. Lee Sun-jin, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, inspected combat readiness at a frontline military outpost facing North Korea Monday and instructed servicemen to react harshly against any North Korean provocations.

During the visit to the military guard post along the central part of the border, Lee was briefed on the latest situation with the North Korean military and examined the combat posture of South Korea servicemen, the JCS said in a statement.

North Korea could launch a provocation at an unlikely place in an unexpected way, such as the South Korean soldiers injured in a land mine explosion in August, the general stressed, ordering troops to hit back mercilessly against any provocations.

"If the enemy provokes, retaliate resolutely, without hesitation so the day will be remembered as humiliation," the JCS chief said.

He also ordered the servicemen to stand ready to fight any time, pledging to support their combat with combined forces from the U.S.

It is Lee's second visit to a frontline military unit in two weeks.

Two days after taking office on Oct. 7, the new JCS chief visited the frontline island of Yeonpyeong in the Yellow Sea and warned North Korea to not carry out military provocations.

The three military branches --Army, Navy and Air Force -- and the marine forces  launched an annual joint field training exercise earlier in the day for a two-week run.

This year's Hoguk joint exercise will focus on keeping military readiness posture in line with evolving security and operational environments and includes anti-special forces drills, defense drills on front-line islands, and anti-air drills, before wrapping up on Oct. 30, the JCS said. (Yonhap)