North Korea's bombardment on a populated South Korean island was probably a politically calculated provocation in part to help secure the ongoing succession of the North's leader in-waiting, the youngest son of leader Kim Jong-il, South Korea's defense chief said Wednesday.
"Our judgment is that North Korea carried out the attack to consolidate the succession process in the country by showing off the leadership of Kim Jong-un," Defense Minister Kim Tae-young told lawmakers, referring to the communist state's heir apparent.
The North's shelling attack on Yeonpyeong Island came amid fresh fears over North Korea's claim of having a new uranium enrichment facility and just two months after a power transition in North Korea became apparent with the debut of Kim Jong-un.
There have been concerns that North Korea could attempt to raise the prestige of its successor by making military provocations against South Korea.
"After revealing the new uranium enrichment facility on Nov. 12, we judged that North Korea made the artillery attack to give Kim Jong-un the
status of a strong leader," the defense minister said during a parliament session.
The minister said his military is determined to "respond resolutely" if North Korea resumes shelling or makes any further provocations, reaffirming that Tuesday's attack was "pre-planned" and "intentional."
Kim Tae-young said North Korea fired some 170 rounds of artillery on Tuesday, with some 80 rounds landing on the island. The defense ministry earlier said there were about 100 rounds.
The North's attack killed two South Korean marines, who were stationed at a military installation on the border island. Another 15 marines were wounded, five of them seriously, while at least three civilians were also
hurt.
The minister confirmed South Korean and U.S. troops have upgraded their surveillance alert against North Korea as tensions were rising from the North's artillery bombing.
The two sides raised the surveillance alert to Watchcon-2 from Watchcon-3 as of 3:45 p.m. on Tuesday, about an hour after the North's firing, Kim said.