South Korea Vows 'Strong Response' To North Korea's 'Declaration' Of War | HuffPost

South Korea Vows 'Strong Response'

The Huffington Post UK

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South Korea's military will "respond powerfully" to attack or provocation from it's neighbour in the North, the country's president said on Monday.

Park Geun-hye made the statement in response to North Korea declaring a "state of war" between the two countries on Saturday.

Speaking to journalists and military officials he said: "The reason for the military's existence is to protect the country and the people from threats.

N Korean leader Kim Jong Un during a plenary meeting of the central committee of the ruling Workers' Party

"If any provocations happen against our people and our country, it should respond powerfully in the early stages without having any political considerations."

South Korea and the United States have carried out joint military operations in the area.

Last week nuclear ready B-52 bombers conducted dummy run raids in the area in a thinly veiled attempt to demonstrate military might.

North Korea has raised tensions in the region by successfully testing a third nuclear weapon and issuing increasingly bellicose statements to the alarm of western governments.

Saturday's declaration from Pyonyang said: "From this time on, the North-South relations will be entering the state of war and all issues raised between the North and the South will be handled accordingly.

"The long-standing situation of the Korean peninsula being neither at peace nor at war is finally over."

The declaration continued: "If the US and the south Korean puppet group perpetrate a military provocation for igniting a war against the DPRK in any area including the five islands in the West Sea of Korea or in the area along the Military Demarcation Line, it will not be limited to a local war, but develop into an all-out war, a nuclear war."

The statement was accompanied by pictures of North Korean supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, in an "emergency meeting" with top generals.

The US and South Korea has responded with a series of purposefully obvious military operations.

US military command in South Korea said: "[North Korea] will achieve nothing by threats or provocations, which will only further isolate North Korea and undermine international efforts to ensure peace and stability in Northeast Asia," reports Reuters.

Koreas

Kim Jong Un(01 of25)

In this Sunday, March 31, 2013 photo released by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) and distributed in Tokyo Monday, April 1, 2013 by the Korea News Service, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un gives a speech during a plenary meeting of the central committee of the ruling Workers' Party in Pyongyang, North Korea. After weeks of war-like rhetoric, North Korean leader Kim gathered legislators Monday for an annual spring parliamentary session taking place one day after top party officials adopted a statement declaring building nuclear weapons and the economy the nation's top priorities. (AP Photo/KCNA via KNS) JAPAN OUT UNTIL 14 DAYS AFTER THE DAY OF TRANSMISSION (credit:AP)

(02 of25)

A South Korean army tank moves during an exercise against possible attacks by North Korea near the demilitarized zone (DMZ) in Hwacheon, South Korea, Monday, April 1, 2013. After weeks of war-like rhetoric, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un gathered legislators Monday for an annual spring parliamentary session taking place one day after top party officials adopted a statement declaring building nuclear weapons and the economy the nation's top priorities. (AP Photo/Yonhap, Lee Hae-ryong) KOREA OUT (credit:AP)

(03 of25)

Smoke bombs explode near South Korean army tanks during an exercise against possible attacks by North Korea near the demilitarized zone (DMZ) in Hwacheon, South Korea, Monday, April 1, 2013. After weeks of war-like rhetoric, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un gathered legislators Monday for an annual spring parliamentary session taking place one day after top party officials adopted a statement declaring building nuclear weapons and the economy the nation's top priorities. (AP Photo/Yonhap, Lee Hae-ryong) KOREA OUT (credit:AP)

(04 of25)

Smoke bombs explode near South Korean army tanks during an exercise against possible attacks by North Korea near the demilitarized zone (DMZ) in Hwacheon, South Korea, Monday, April 1, 2013. After weeks of war-like rhetoric, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un gathered legislators Monday for an annual spring parliamentary session taking place one day after top party officials adopted a statement declaring building nuclear weapons and the economy the nation's top priorities. (AP Photo/Yonhap, Lee Hae-ryong) KOREA OUT (credit:AP)

(05 of25)

South Korean Army armored vehicles cross a pontoon bridge during an exercise against possible attacks by North Korea near the demilitarized zone (DMZ) in Hwacheon, South Korea Monday, April 1, 2013. After weeks of war-like rhetoric, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un gathered legislators Monday for an annual spring parliamentary session taking place one day after top party officials adopted a statement declaring building nuclear weapons and the economy the nation's top priorities. (AP Photo/Yonhap, Lee Hae-ryong) KOREA OUT (credit:AP)

(06 of25)

South Korean Army tanks cross a pontoon bridge during an exercise against possible attacks by North Korea near the demilitarized zone (DMZ) in Hwacheon, South Korea Monday, April 1, 2013. After weeks of war-like rhetoric, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un gathered legislators Monday for an annual spring parliamentary session taking place one day after top party officials adopted a statement declaring building nuclear weapons and the economy the nation's top priorities. (AP Photo/Yonhap, Lee Hae-ryong) KOREA OUT (credit:AP)

(07 of25)

South Korean Army armored vehicles cross a pontoon bridge during an exercise against possible attacks by North Korea near the demilitarized zone (DMZ) in Hwacheon, South Korea Monday, April 1, 2013. After weeks of war-like rhetoric, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un gathered legislators Monday for an annual spring parliamentary session taking place one day after top party officials adopted a statement declaring building nuclear weapons and the economy the nation's top priorities. (AP Photo/Yonhap, Lee Hae-ryong) KOREA OUT (credit:AP)

(08 of25)

South Korean Marine K-55 self-propelled howitzer are parked during an exercise against possible attacks by North Korea near the border village of Panmunjom in Paju, South Korea Monday, April 1, 2013. After weeks of war-like rhetoric, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un gathered legislators Monday for an annual spring parliamentary session taking place one day after top party officials adopted a statement declaring building nuclear weapons and the economy the nation's top priorities. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) (credit:AP)

(09 of25)

South Korean Army armored vehicles cross a pontoon bridge during an exercise against possible attacks by North Korea near the demilitarized zone (DMZ) in Hwacheon, South Korea Monday, April 1, 2013. After weeks of war-like rhetoric, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un gathered legislators Monday for an annual spring parliamentary session taking place one day after top party officials adopted a statement declaring building nuclear weapons and the economy the nation's top priorities.(AP Photo/Yonhap, Lee Hae-ryong) KOREA OUT (credit:AP)

(10 of25)

South Korean Marine K-55 self-propelled howitzer are parked during an exercise against possible attacks by North Korea near the border village of Panmunjom in Paju, South Korea Monday, April 1, 2013. After weeks of war-like rhetoric, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un gathered legislators Monday for an annual spring parliamentary session taking place one day after top party officials adopted a statement declaring building nuclear weapons and the economy the nation's top priorities. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) (credit:AP)

(11 of25)

South Korean Marines pitch tents during an exercise against possible attacks by North Korea near the border village of Panmunjom in Paju, South Korea Monday, April 1, 2013. After weeks of war-like rhetoric, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un gathered legislators Monday for an annual spring parliamentary session taking place one day after top party officials adopted a statement declaring building nuclear weapons and the economy the nation's top priorities. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) (credit:AP)

(12 of25)

South Korean vehicles wait to head to the North Korean city of Kaesong at the customs, immigration and quarantine office in Paju, South Korea, near the border village of Panmunjom, Monday, April 1, 2013. North Korea threatened in recent days to shut down a jointly run factory complex in Kaesong the last remaining symbol of inter-Korean rapprochement. But officials in Seoul said hundreds of workers traveled as usual across the heavily armed border to the North Korean factory Monday as they have throughout the rising tensions. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) (credit:AP)

(13 of25)

South Korean marines stand near K-55 self-propelled howitzers during an exercise against possible attacks by North Korea near the border village of Panmunjom in Paju, South Korea Monday, April 1, 2013. After weeks of war-like rhetoric, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un gathered legislators Monday for an annual spring parliamentary session taking place one day after top party officials adopted a statement declaring building nuclear weapons and the economy the nation's top priorities.(AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) (credit:AP)

(14 of25)

South Korean marines stand on K-55 self-propelled howitzers during an exercise against possible attacks by North Korea near the border village of Panmunjom in Paju, South Korea Monday, April 1, 2013. After weeks of war-like rhetoric, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un gathered legislators Monday for an annual spring parliamentary session taking place one day after top party officials adopted a statement declaring building nuclear weapons and the economy the nation's top priorities.(AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) (credit:AP)

(15 of25)

South Korean marines stand on their K-55 self-propelled howitzers during an exercise against possible attacks by North Korea near the border village of Panmunjom in Paju, South Korea Monday, April 1, 2013. After weeks of war-like rhetoric, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un gathered legislators Monday for an annual spring parliamentary session taking place one day after top party officials adopted a statement declaring building nuclear weapons and the economy the nation's top priorities.(AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) (credit:AP)

(16 of25)

A South Korean marine sits on a K-55 self-propelled howitzer during an exercise against possible attacks by North Korea near the border village of Panmunjom in Paju, South Korea Monday, April 1, 2013. After weeks of war-like rhetoric, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un gathered legislators Monday for an annual spring parliamentary session taking place one day after top party officials adopted a statement declaring building nuclear weapons and the economy the nation's top priorities.(AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) (credit:AP)

(17 of25)

South Korean vehicles head to the North Korean city of Kaesong as a South Korean army soldier stands guard at the customs, immigration and quarantine office in Paju, South Korea, near the border village of Panmunjom, Monday, April 1, 2013. North Korea warned South Korea on Saturday that the Korean Peninsula had entered "a state of war" and threatened to shut down a border factory complex that's the last major symbol of inter-Korean cooperation. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) (credit:AP)

(18 of25)

South Korean vehicles return from the North Korean city of Kaesong at the customs, immigration and quarantine office in Paju, South Korea, near the border village of Panmunjom, Monday, April 1, 2013. North Korea warned South Korea on Saturday that the Korean Peninsula had entered "a state of war" and threatened to shut down a border factory complex that's the last major symbol of inter-Korean cooperation. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) (credit:AP)

(19 of25)

South Korean vehicles return from the North Korean city of Kaesong at the customs, immigration and quarantine office in Paju, South Korea, near the border village of Panmunjom, Monday, April 1, 2013. North Korea warned South Korea on Saturday that the Korean Peninsula had entered "a state of war" and threatened to shut down a border factory complex that's the last major symbol of inter-Korean cooperation. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) (credit:AP)

(20 of25)

South Korean Jin Woo-jun, center wearing white shirt, is surrounded by media after returning from the North Korean city of Kaesong at the customs, immigration and quarantine office in Paju, South Korea, near the border village of Panmunjom, Monday, April 1, 2013. North Korea warned South Korea on Saturday that the Korean Peninsula had entered "a state of war" and threatened to shut down a border factory complex that's the last major symbol of inter-Korean cooperation.(AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) (credit:AP)

(21 of25)

A South Korean army soldier inspects vehicles waiting to head to the North Korean city of Kaesong at the Inter-Korea Transit Office in Paju, South Korea, near the border village of Panmunjom, Monday, April 1, 2013. North Korea warned South Korea on Saturday that the Korean Peninsula had entered "a state of war" and threatened to shut down a border factory complex that's the last major symbol of inter-Korean cooperation. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) (credit:AP)

(22 of25)

South Korean vehicles head to the North Korean city of Kaesong as a South Korean army soldier stands guard at the customs, immigration and quarantine office in Paju, South Korea, near the border village of Panmunjom, Monday, April 1, 2013. North Korea warned South Korea on Saturday that the Korean Peninsula had entered "a state of war" and threatened to shut down a border factory complex that's the last major symbol of inter-Korean cooperation. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) (credit:AP)

(23 of25)

South Korean vehicles head to the North Korean city of Kaesong at the customs, immigration and quarantine office in Paju, South Korea, near the border village of Panmunjom, Monday, April 1, 2013. North Korea warned South Korea on Saturday that the Korean Peninsula had entered "a state of war" and threatened to shut down a border factory complex that's the last major symbol of inter-Korean cooperation. AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) (credit:AP)

(24 of25)

South Korean army soldiers walk as vehicles wait to head to the North Korean city of Kaesong at the customs, immigration and quarantine office in Paju, South Korea, near the border village of Panmunjom, Monday, April 1, 2013. North Korea warned South Korea on Saturday that the Korean Peninsula had entered "a state of war" and threatened to shut down a border factory complex that's the last major symbol of inter-Korean cooperation. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) (credit:AP)

(25 of25)

South Korean drivers change their vehicle numbers to head to the North Korean city of Kaesong at the customs, immigration and quarantine office in Paju, South Korea, near the border village of Panmunjom, Monday, April 1, 2013. North Korea warned South Korea on Saturday that the Korean Peninsula had entered "a state of war" and threatened to shut down a border factory complex that's the last major symbol of inter-Korean cooperation. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) (credit:AP)

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