South Korea's top military commanders on Monday ushered in the new year with renewed vows to create battle-ready forces that can swiftly and strongly respond to any future attacks from North Korea.
Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have remained high since North Korea's artillery strike on the front-line island of Yeonpyeong in November of last year. Two marines and two civilians were killed in the North's first assault on a civilian area in the South's territory since the 1950-53 Korean War.
The South's military, reeling from the attack because of its perceived weak response, pledged to hit back harshly if Pyongyang attacks again.
"This year, North Korea may again attempt to test our combat preparedness and willingness to respond," said Army Chief of Staff Gen. Kim Sang-ki in his New Year's message.
"Our aim is clear. We must create battle-ready troops getting fully prepared to fight and win if the enemy provokes us again," he said.
Kim also ordered the Army to overhaul its bureaucratic practices and hold "realistic maneuvers to nurture highly disciplined field commanders and soldiers."
The Air Force increased the annual flight time for fighter pilots by three hours to 153 hours this year to boost its readiness against threats from North Korea.
In addition, the ground standby time for fighter jets such as F-15Ks and KF-16s has been shortened to 30 minutes this year from the previous two-hour requirement to become more responsive to missions, the Air Force said in a statement.
"North Korea's artillery attack on Yeonpyeong Island demonstrated that the North could make a provocation in an unpredictable manner at an unpredictable moment," Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Park Jong-heon said in the statement.
"By ensuring the round-the-clock air surveillance and early warning system, we should hone our ability to resolutely retaliate if North Korea provokes us again," Park said.
The Navy, meanwhile, required its officers and sailors to undergo further physical readiness training, including a tougher program for swimming.
This month, the Navy will launch a task force to bolster its education training this month, it said in a separate statement.