Chance of provocation by North growing: Kim Kwan Jin

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South Korea on Monday warned the likelihood of a “surprise provocation” by North Korea against the South is on the rise, according to Yonhap News Agency.

“The possibility with various means and methods is steadily increasing while (North Korea is) pressurising us with rhetorical threats,” South Korean defense minister Kim Kwan Jin was quoted as telling lawmakers at a parliamentary session.

North Korea has threatened to cut off a military hotline with South Korea and declared last month that it won’t deal anymore with the South.

The North also vowed “retaliatory military actions” against the South for using headshot photos of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il and his son and heir apparent Jong Un as targets for shooting practice.

Kim said South Korea is closely watching the North’s military movements and maintaining a readiness to cope with “any types of provocation”.

The South Korean defence ministry has instructed military units to use standard targets during shooting practice.

Relations between the two Koreas remain strained after the North’s two deadly attacks on the South in 2010 — the sinking of a South Korean warship and the shelling of a border island.

The North has strongly denied its involvement in the ship sinking and said the South provoked the shelling.