The chief of South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) has instructed soldiers to deliver a “decisive blow that cuts off the breath” of North Korea if its military conducts “provocations” at the border during upcoming U.S.-ROK summertime drills.

Kim Seung-kyum made the remarks during a visit to frontline military units on Monday, after the DPRK vowed to crush U.S. and South Korean forces and warned of nuclear war during a large-scale military parade last week. 

“Enemy provocations and threats are likely to increase using the upcoming Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) exercise as an excuse. If the enemy provokes, retaliate