South Korea Threatens Norks With Air Strikes

It remains to be seen whether tough talk by the new South Korean defence minister will dissuade the Norks from further acts of aggression.

South Korea's defence minister-designate has promised a tougher response, including air strikes, if North Korea attacks again. Kim Kwan-jin was responding to questions in parliament during his confirmation hearing.

North Korea shelled a Southern island near the two countries' disputed maritime border last week, killing four people and destroying many homes. South Korea's spy chief has said another Northern attack was likely.

Tensions have soared in the region since the North Korean bombardment of Yeonpyeong island on 23 November. Two civilians and two South Korean marines were killed. The shelling came after South Korean forces conducted exercises in the area.

"If North Korea provokes again, we will definitely use aircraft to attack North Korea," Mr Kim said when asked how he would respond to another attack.

He also criticised his predecessor, saying the military should not have ignored intelligence reports suggesting an attack from the North was likely. Kim Tae-young was forced to resign just days after the bombardment of Yeonpyeong island, amid criticism that the military's response was too slow and too weak.

Kim Kwan-jin, a retired general and former head of South Korea's joint chiefs of staff, told his confirmation hearing that he would strengthen the military's rules of engagement, to give more power to the head of the military. He said he would also give more leeway to commanders in the field to determine the level of response to attacks.

Korean broadcaster KBS said last week that more rigorous rules of engagement being proposed included return fire that was two to three times more powerful than any initial Northern fire. The current rules call for a proportionate response with similar weapons and on a similar scale, to avoid escalation.

By: Shelldrake