South Korean education minister Lee Ju-ho called for unwavering military readiness to deter North Korean provocations on Friday, chairing his first National Security Council meeting hours after becoming the country’s acting commander in chief.

Lee assumed the role of acting president at midnight following the dual resignations of former Acting President Han Duck-soo and Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok.

“The government’s core duty is to protect national security and the safety of its citizens,” Lee said in his opening remarks at the Government Complex in Seoul. “We must ensure that North Korea is not given any opportunity to attempt provocations.”