S. Korean, U.S. defense chiefs vow readiness against possible DPRK

The South Korean and U.S. defense chiefs agreed Friday to jointly develop strategies to better deter future provocations by the Democratic People\'s Republic of Korea (DPRK). Following the annual Security Consultative Meeting between South Korea and the United States, South Korean Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin and U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said the allies will enhance combined defense capabilities against possible DPRK aggression, which they say is \"not to be tolerated.\" This year the allies will complete a joint counter-provocation plan to \"advance the military deterrence capabilities\" and \"improve response readiness\" in case there is a new DPRK provocation, the officials said in a joint statement. Inter-Korean ties reached their lowest point last year following two deadly border incidents that killed 50 South Koreans, including two civilians, which Panetta said demonstrated Pyongyang\'s \"willingness\" to make provocations that also target civilians. In light of the incidents, Seoul and Washington plan to boost military capabilities in western border islands near a tense sea border, the officials said. They urged the DPRK to \"accept the practical value of, and abide by\" the disputed maritime border called the Northern Limit Line, according to the joint statement. The DPRK refuses to acknowledge the border, which was drawn by the U.S.-led United Nations Command after the 1950-53 Korean War. Kim and Panetta also called on the DPRK to \"immediately cease all activities related to its nuclear programs,\" including the uranium enrichment program, and take concrete steps toward denuclearization. Panetta said the United States stays fully committed to the defense of South Korea, and the U.S. nuclear umbrella for South Korea remains in place so that \"Pyongyang never misjudges\" Washington\'s will to respond to its attacks on Seoul. Some 28,500 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea, a legacy of the three-year Korean War. The war ended with a truce instead of a formal peace treaty, which has left the DPRK and South Korea technically at war with each other. The DPRK\'s official news agency KCNA reported early October that the country may take physical action against South Korea in response to its \"ceaseless provocative war moves.\"