South Korea: We will retaliate if North strikes again
Top news: South Korean President Lee Myung-bak's nominee to take over as defense chief said in his parliamentary confirmation hearing that his jets would bomb the North if North Korea forces staged another attack like last week's deadly shelling.
"In case the enemy attacks our territory and people again, we will thoroughly retaliate to ensure that the enemy cannot provoke again," said Kim Kwan-jin, a four star general and former infantry commander. The hearing is considered a formality since parliament doesn't have the power to reject Lee's choice.
Lee's government, which came into office promising a tough line against North Korea, has come under intense criticism for its mild response to last week's attack and the sinking of a South Korean destroyer in March. The South fired only 80 round of artillery last week in response to 170 by the North.
The South Korean government has been reluctant to take major military action against the North as Seoul likes only 30 miles from the North Korean border, well within rocket range.
Japan and the United States began their largest ever joint military drills on Friday. The exercise comes just a few days after similar drills with U.S. and South Korean forces in the Yellow Sea.
