South Korea orders military to counter any provocation from DPRK

President Yoon Suk-yeol, center, attends the National Security Council meeting in Seoul on June 5, 2022, according to a photo provided by the Republic of Korea's Presidential Office. SEOUL The military was ordered by President Yoon Suk-yeol to retaliate immediately in case of any provocation from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, amid rumours that Pyongyang could conduct its first nuclear test in five years.

Yoon, who took office in May, presided over his first meeting with top military commanders and called for strong capabilities to deter DPRK nuclear and missile programs, the presidential office said.

The military meeting took place a day after the US Air Force F-35 A stealth fighters arrived in the ROK on their first publicly announced visit since 2017.

President Yoon said strong defence capabilities should be ready to protect the country's security and national interest, as the security uncertainties surrounding South Korea and Northeast Asia are growing more than ever, according to the presidential office.

The ROK is referred to as South Korea, while the DPRK is referred to as North Korea.

Yoon met with US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Madrid last week and agreed to explore further ways to strengthen deterrence against the DPRK.