South Korea‘s top general said Thursday North Korea will face strong retaliation that could severely undermine its regime if it stages another provocation.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Chairman Gen. Lee Sun-jin made the remarks during his visit to a marine unit and naval patrol boat detachment in Yeonpyeong Island and other front-line islands. The four-star general checked the units' preparedness to counter military provocations along the Northern Limit Line (NLL), an official statement said. 

 
His visit is seen as part of the government’s extensive efforts to put soldiers on high alert against any military threats from North Korea. In its latest provocations, the North on Wednesday fired off two mid-range Rodong ballistic missiles, with one presumed to have landed in waters controlled by Japan.

“If North Korea causes any damages to our military or our people as they did on Aug. 4 last year, it will have to face a strong retaliation which could shake its regime to the core,” the JCS chief said in a statement.

A year ago, land mines placed by North Korea detonated in the demilitarized zone and severely injured two soldiers.

    After being briefed on the North Korean military‘s activities and the South’s preparations, Lee warned that North Korea is highly likely to raise tensions along the border areas by engaging in unpredictable provocations.

The NLL is the de facto sea demarcation line between the two Koreas, although the North has refused to accept the division.

“If provoked again, the military has to safeguard the western maritime border by clearly eradicating the source of the provocation,” he said. (Yonhap)