SKorea renews vows of retaliation against NKorea

[T0RN]

SKorea renews vows of retaliation against NKorea
SEOUL, South Korea, Sat Dec 04, 01:30 AM

South Korea's new defense minister took office Saturday and vowed a strong military response that would force rival North Korea to surrender if the communist nation attacks the South again.

Kim Kwan-jin's predecessor resigned amid criticism that the government responded weakly to a North Korean artillery barrage Nov. 23 on a South Korean island near their disputed western sea border that killed two South Korean marines and two civilians.

During a confirmation hearing Friday, Kim warned South Korea would launch air strikes on the North if it stages another attack.

"If North Korea carries out a military provocation on our territory and people again, we must retaliate immediately and strongly until they completely surrender," Kim Kwan-jin said in his maiden speech Saturday, made to senior military officials.

Kim also called for military readiness, saying North Korea would plot new provocations.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/as_koreas_clash