South Korea warns North of ‘strong response’ to any attack

Jethro Mullen and K.J. Kwon, CNN
4 minute read
Updated 10:39 AM EDT, Mon April 1, 2013
Emergency service personnel wearing chemical protective clothing participate in an anti-chemical warfare exercise on Tuesday, April 16 in Seoul. Tensions remain high in the Korean Peninsula in the wake of North Korea's recent nuclear threats and provocations. A Pentagon intelligence assessment suggests the North may have the ability to deliver a nuclear weapon with a ballistic missile, though the reliability is believed to be "low."
Militaries and Korean tensions —
Emergency service personnel wearing chemical protective clothing participate in an anti-chemical warfare exercise on Tuesday, April 16 in Seoul. Tensions remain high in the Korean Peninsula in the wake of North Korea's recent nuclear threats and provocations. A Pentagon intelligence assessment suggests the North may have the ability to deliver a nuclear weapon with a ballistic missile, though the reliability is believed to be "low."
Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images
South Korean marines arrive on the island of Yeonpyeong near the disputed waters of the Yellow Sea on Friday, April 12.
Militaries and Korean tensions —
South Korean marines arrive on the island of Yeonpyeong near the disputed waters of the Yellow Sea on Friday, April 12.
JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images
A Japanese soldier is on alert as Patriot Advanced Capability-3 missile launchers are deployed at the Defense Ministry in Tokyo on Wednesday, April 10.
Militaries and Korean tensions —
A Japanese soldier is on alert as Patriot Advanced Capability-3 missile launchers are deployed at the Defense Ministry in Tokyo on Wednesday, April 10.
TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/Getty Images
South Korean soldiers sit in a truck at the Inter-Korean transit office on Tuesday, April 9, in Paju, South Korea.
Militaries and Korean tensions —
South Korean soldiers sit in a truck at the Inter-Korean transit office on Tuesday, April 9, in Paju, South Korea.
Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images
South Korean soldiers participate in an artillery drill as part of the Foal Eagle joint military exercise by U.S. and South Korean forces near the Demilitarized Zone in Goseong on April 9.
Militaries and Korean tensions —
South Korean soldiers participate in an artillery drill as part of the Foal Eagle joint military exercise by U.S. and South Korean forces near the Demilitarized Zone in Goseong on April 9.
KIM HONG-JI/reuters/LANDOV
U.S. soldiers are at a military training field in Yeoncheon, South Korea, on April 9.
Militaries and Korean tensions —
U.S. soldiers are at a military training field in Yeoncheon, South Korea, on April 9.
JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images
South Korean soldiers with K-55 self-propelled Howitzers stage at a military training field in the border city of Paju on Friday, April 5, as tensions continue to mount on the Korean peninsula.
Militaries and Korean tensions —
South Korean soldiers with K-55 self-propelled Howitzers stage at a military training field in the border city of Paju on Friday, April 5, as tensions continue to mount on the Korean peninsula.
JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images
South Korean soldiers man a cannon at a military training field in Paju on April 5.
Militaries and Korean tensions —
South Korean soldiers man a cannon at a military training field in Paju on April 5.
JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images
South Korean soldiers stand guard at a sentry post at the border with North Korea in the Demilitarized Zone near Imjingak, South Korea, on April 5.
Militaries and Korean tensions —
South Korean soldiers stand guard at a sentry post at the border with North Korea in the Demilitarized Zone near Imjingak, South Korea, on April 5.
JEON HEON-KYUN/epa/LANDOV
A U.S. Army Patriot missile battery is visible at the U.S. Osan Air Base in South Korea on Friday, April 5.
Militaries and Korean tensions —
A U.S. Army Patriot missile battery is visible at the U.S. Osan Air Base in South Korea on Friday, April 5.
LEE JAE-WON/reuters/LANDOV
The U.S. Navy is moving a sea-based radar platform, like the one seen in this 2006 file photo, closer to the North Korean coast to monitor that country's military moves, including possible new missile launches, a Defense Department official said Monday, April 1.
Militaries and Korean tensions —
The U.S. Navy is moving a sea-based radar platform, like the one seen in this 2006 file photo, closer to the North Korean coast to monitor that country's military moves, including possible new missile launches, a Defense Department official said Monday, April 1.
Journalist 2nd Class Ryan C. McGinley/U.S. Navy
South Korean marines man K-55 self-propelled Howitzers at a military training field in the border city of Paju on Monday, April 1. Park Geun-hye, South Korea's new president, promised a strong military response to any North Korean provocation after North Korea announced that the two countries were in a state of war.
Militaries and Korean tensions —
South Korean marines man K-55 self-propelled Howitzers at a military training field in the border city of Paju on Monday, April 1. Park Geun-hye, South Korea's new president, promised a strong military response to any North Korean provocation after North Korea announced that the two countries were in a state of war.
JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images
South Korean anti-aircraft armored vehicles move across a temporary bridge during a river crossing drill in Hwacheon near the North Korean border on Monday, April 1.
Militaries and Korean tensions —
South Korean anti-aircraft armored vehicles move across a temporary bridge during a river crossing drill in Hwacheon near the North Korean border on Monday, April 1.
KIM JAE-HWAN/AFP/Getty Images
South Korean soldiers ride on a military truck in Paju on Friday, March 29.
Militaries and Korean tensions —
South Korean soldiers ride on a military truck in Paju on Friday, March 29.
JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images
The United States said Thursday, March 28, that it flew stealth bombers over South Korea to participate in annual military exercises amid spiking tensions with North Korea. Pictured, a B-2 Spirit stealth bomber flies over South Korea's western port city of Pyeongtaek.
Militaries and Korean tensions —
The United States said Thursday, March 28, that it flew stealth bombers over South Korea to participate in annual military exercises amid spiking tensions with North Korea. Pictured, a B-2 Spirit stealth bomber flies over South Korea's western port city of Pyeongtaek.
EPA/YONHAP /LANDOV
South Korean soldiers gather at the foot of a mountain near a military drill field in the border city of Paju on Wednesday, March 27.
Militaries and Korean tensions —
South Korean soldiers gather at the foot of a mountain near a military drill field in the border city of Paju on Wednesday, March 27.
JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images
Armed South Korean soldiers walk on a road near a military drill field in Paju on March 27.
Militaries and Korean tensions —
Armed South Korean soldiers walk on a road near a military drill field in Paju on March 27.
JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images
South Korean soldiers ride in a military truck in Paju on March 27.
Militaries and Korean tensions —
South Korean soldiers ride in a military truck in Paju on March 27.
JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images
A B-52 bomber flies over the wire-topped fence of a U.S. air base in Osan, South Korea, on Tuesday, March 19.
Militaries and Korean tensions —
A B-52 bomber flies over the wire-topped fence of a U.S. air base in Osan, South Korea, on Tuesday, March 19.
WON DAI-YEON/AFP/Getty Images
South Korean soldiers take part in a drill to guard the building of a state-run telecom company in Seoul against potential guerrilla attacks on Thursday, March 14.
Militaries and Korean tensions —
South Korean soldiers take part in a drill to guard the building of a state-run telecom company in Seoul against potential guerrilla attacks on Thursday, March 14.
KIM JAE-HWAN/AFP/Getty Images
South Korean army soldiers jump off a military truck during a drill outside a U.S. airbase in Pyeongtaek as part of annual joint exercises with the United States on March 14.
Militaries and Korean tensions —
South Korean army soldiers jump off a military truck during a drill outside a U.S. airbase in Pyeongtaek as part of annual joint exercises with the United States on March 14.
JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images
South Korean Marines operate K-55 self-propelled howitzers on the western island of Ganghwa near the disputed maritime frontier with North Korea on Wednesday, March 13.
Militaries and Korean tensions —
South Korean Marines operate K-55 self-propelled howitzers on the western island of Ganghwa near the disputed maritime frontier with North Korea on