South Korea denounced Japanese leaders Tuesday for saying Tokyo needs to consider acquiring the capability to launch pre-emptive strikes on foreign bases, in the wake of North Korea's missile test-launches last week.
"It is nothing other than a grave situation that Japanese Cabinet ministers repeatedly raised the possibility of launching pre-emptive strikes and the justification of armed actions on the Korean Peninsula," presidential spokesman Jung Tae Ho was quoted by Yonhap News Agency as saying.
Jung made the remarks in a briefing after a meeting of senior officials at the Blue House presidential office.
South Korea would "sternly respond to arrogance and senseless remarks by Japanese political leaders who are trying to further increase tensions on the Korean Peninsula," Jung reportedly said.