Today, Friday, South Korean Defense Minister Lee Jong-sub called on the country’s new high-ranking military officers to “strongly” respond to any direct provocation from North Korea, noting that “if North Korea undertakes a direct provocation, we must respond frankly in light of self-defense.” .

According to the South Korean news agency Yonhap, Minister Jong Seob’s words were delivered during separate inaugurations of the new Army Chief of Staff Gen. Park Jong-hwan, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Jung Sang-hwa, and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Chung Sang-hwa of Navy Headquarters Lee Jong-ho.

The South Korean minister’s calls come amid tension over North Korea’s recent missile launches.

The South Korean minister called the recent tests a “serious threat” to security on the Korean peninsula and beyond, and ordered the new leaders to “immediately respond to all threats.”