PM calls for vigilance to counter potential NK attacks after impeachment

Published : Dec 10, 2016 - 15:29 Updated : Dec 10, 2016 - 15:29

Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn on Saturday instructed the military to step up vigilance against threats or any attempt to instigate national division from North Korea, his office said.

The direction comes a day after the parliament impeached President Park Geun-hye for her alleged involvement in a high-profile corruption scandal.

Hwang took over as acting president while the Constitutional Court has 180 days to determine whether to endorse the impeachment or not.

Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn speaks during an emergency meeting at the main goverment building in Seoul, Saturday. (Yonhap)

"After the National Assembly voted in favor of the impeachment plan yesterday, the government is carrying out all measures necessary to prevent any government vacuum and ease the people's anxiety," Hwang said during an emergency meeting of major Cabinet ministers at the main government building in Seoul.

"Up until now, the financial and foreign currency markets have remained relatively stable and no special development from North Korea has been reported. But all civil servants should work with a sense of tension for the time being."

Calling national security the most grave and imperative in this situation, Hwang stressed the need to maintain the country's reliability in external relations by reassuring countries around the world, especially major allies, of Seoul's stable state management situation.

As for the economy, he asked officials to closely monitor developments of financial markets in and out of the country and focus on risk control to prevent the impeachment vote from having too much influence on the markets. (Yonhap)