Defense Minister Han Min-koo has warned against further provocation from North Korea.
 
Han issued a statement at the Defense Ministry at 8 p.m. on Friday, which said that if the North provokes again under the pretext of South Korea's propaganda broadcasting, Seoul will sternly retaliate and make Pyongyang pay a severe price.
 
He also stressed that additional instigation will be deterred through close coordination with the U.S. based on bilateral alliance.
 
The minister said the North's attacks including Thursday's artillery shelling are grave provocations and a clear violation of the Korean Armistice Agreement and the inter-Korean non-aggression agreement. 
 
The defense chief also said that Pyongyang is raising military tension by blurting out words such as ultimatum. He vowed to put an end to the vicious cycle of Pyongyang's incitements.
 
He also urged South Korean people not to be swayed by groundless rumors, adding the public's calm, yet cool-headed courage and trust in the military is a driving force.
 
The minister also promised to do his best in keeping the public well-informed of all developments and pledged all-out efforts to protect the lives and property of South Korean’s.