S. Korea's Yoon tells Marines to 'act first, report later' if provoked

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol urges Marine Corps to act first and report later in response to North Korean threats.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol told his Marine Corps on Saturday to "act first, report later" if provoked, following an escalation of threats from North Korea.

Nuclear-armed North Korea has this year declared South Korea its "principal enemy", closed agencies dedicated to reunification and outreach, and threatened war over "even 0.001 millimetres" of territorial infringement.

Leader Kim Jong-un repeated on Friday that Pyongyang would not hesitate to "put an end" to South Korea if attacked, calling Seoul the North's "most dangerous and first enemy state and invariable archenemy".

The hawkish Mr. Yoon has bolstered defence cooperation with the United States and Japan since coming to office in 2022, including expanding joint drills, to counter Pyongyang's growing threats.

"If the enemy provokes us, adhere to the principle of 'act first, report later' and respond decisively and overwhelmingly without hesitation to completely shatter the enemy's will," Mr. Yoon said during a visit to a front-line Republic of Korea Marines Corps unit, according to his office.

Mr. Yoon made similar remarks last month and during a visit to a frontline army unit in December.

He also inspected a multiple-launch strike system on Saturday, Lunar New Year, and stressed the need to be "fully prepared to respond immediately in case of enemy provocation".