S. Korean president stresses firm national security and defense

South Korean President Park Geun-hye on Thursday stressed the importance of national defense and security in a road to opening the era of a reunified Korea.

She made the remark while chairing a meeting of top military intelligence and police officials at the presidential office. “Although we have accomplished a history of prosperity and development for 70 years since the national liberation that marveled the world but have not achieved the last remaining task of national reunification,” she said.

President Park also instructed security officials to keep a stern military readiness against possible provocations from North Korea, saying that Pyongyang’s continued development of nuclear weapons and long-range missiles while maintaining its strategy of developing nuclear weapons and economic development.

She also expressed regret for Pyongyang’s attitude, noting that it has continued threat of provocations while demanding various preconditions for South Korea`s dialogue offer.

President Park also said that frictions, conflicts and terror threats have gone over a dangerous level, citing the terror attacks and killings by the Islamic State jihadist group. She urged security officials to maintain thorough readiness posture for “non-military and supranational threats” such as cyberattacks, epidemics and natural disasters.

The meeting of top military intelligence and police officials has been held annually since 1968, when it was first held to discuss measures against infiltrations by armed North Korean agents.