South Korea plans on staging firing exercises in 29 places, in its surrounding seas on Monday. The country also made, other moves to strengthen its military deployment. In response, the DPRK lambasted South Korea, saying its actions, could trigger, "catastrophic consequences."

Amid the rising tensions with the DPRK, South Korea's new defense minister Kim Kwan-jin has made his first visit to the Demilitarized Zone and met with troops there. Wearing camouflage fatigues, Kim Kwan-jin inspected an army base near the heavily fortified land border. According to his office, he urged troops to strengthen their combat capability and mental toughness.

South Korea has strengthened its military forces and facilities near the Northern Limit Line. Meanwhile, it will stage firing exercises in 29 places in surrounding sea areas according to the military plan.

In response, the DPRK has lambasted South Korea's new Defense Minister for threatening to launch air strikes in the event of future provocations.

Pyongyang has also denounced the firing exercises, urging Seoul to "stop acting rashly," and warning the exercises can trigger "catastrophic consequences."

"We are now maintaining maximum self-possession and self-control. If a full-scale war breaks out between the North and the South, it will seriously affect peace and security, not only on the Korean Peninsula, but also in the rest of the region."

The DPRK adds that South Korea's moves are aimed at generating military actions against its territory, in order to implement what it calls a "retaliatory plan."

It warns the provocation is rapidly driving the situation on the Korean Peninsula to "an uncontrollable extreme phase," and no one can predict how badly the situation might deteriorate in the future.

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