Top South Korean officials stressed the need to prepare for North Korean military threats in the new year, while also signaling support for engagement.

In a New Year’s message posted on social media on Friday, defense minister Ahn Gyu-back stressed that Seoul will get ready for Full Operational Capability (FOC) verification as part of efforts to eventually assume wartime operational control (OPCON) of South Korean forces from the U.S.

The verification will demonstrate South Korea’s readiness to take the lead in security on the Korean Peninsula, based on the strong ROK-U.S. alliance, he said.

Last month, the defense ministry revealed