ISTANBUL

South Korea's acting President Han Duck-soo has called on the military to be ready to counter alleged threats from North Korea, while Pyongyang on Tuesday slammed last week's joint naval drills by South Korea, Japan, and the US.

While chairing an emergency National Security Council meeting late Monday, Han urged the military to maintain “thorough readiness" against alleged military threats from North Korea, according to the Seoul-based Yonhap News.

“While closely cooperating with friendly countries and the international community based on the solid South Korea-US alliance, please make every effort so that our diplomatic policies for the people and our national interest are carried out without disruption,” said Han, who is also the prime minister.

Separately, North Korea on Tuesday slammed the trilateral naval exercise that the US, South Korea, and Japan conducted last week for four days.

“The enemy states' any provocation and threat will face the overwhelming and decisive counteraction from North Korea,” according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency.

Pyongyang said the actions of the three countries “did not take the trouble to conceal the fact that the drill was aimed to check North Korea’s nuclear and missile capabilities and its sea defense capability in particular and deprive it of its maritime sovereignty.”

The "present US administration is going to amplify a multi-purpose war gambling in the Korean peninsula and the region," it added.

On Monday, Han said he would “pour all his wisdom and capabilities into securing our national interests in the ongoing trade war that has already become a reality,” pointing to the tariff war and geopolitical challenges that became a reality after US President Donald Trump took office.

South Korea’s Constitutional Court on Monday dismissed the impeachment of Han, allowing him to resume his role as the acting president amid ongoing political turmoil following President Yoon Suk Yeol’s suspension.

The ruling came 87 days after parliament impeached Han, deepening the country’s political crisis as opposition parties and civil society groups continue to challenge Yoon’s controversial actions.