South Korea and the U.S. will devise “realistic” training scenarios to better deal with North Korea’s missile and nuclear threats and expand joint military drills next year, Seoul’s defense ministry announced Wednesday.

In a meeting with top military commanders, defense minister Lee Jong-sup praised their work amid the backdrop of DPRK “nuclear threats” and direct and indirect threats to South Korea’s territory, calling for preparedness across all scenarios.

“To ensure that we can respond sternly and perfectly to any North Korean provocations, I particularly emphasize the maintenance of a posture to respond immediately on the ground for a definite win