Acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn has urged the military to maintain an airtight posture against possible provocations by North Korea.

Hwang told a Cabinet meeting Tuesday that the North may use the pretext of ongoing Key Resolve and Foal Eagle exercises between South Korea and the United States to stage what he called a "reckless provocation" at any time and place.

The acting president said that the military should use the annual joint drills to strengthen its combined readiness.

He ordered military personnel to deter and sternly punish any threat to national security and people’s lives.