President Yoon Suk Yeol said Friday North Korea will be made to pay a “larger price” in the event it carries out a reckless provocation.

Yoon issued the warning as the nation marked West Sea Defense Day, which commemorates the 55 service members who died in action while defending the Northern Limit Line, the de facto maritime border between South and North Korea, between 2002 and 2010.

“Our military will maintain an ironclad readiness posture and firmly defend the Republic of Korea’s freedom and the people’s safety by responding immediately and overwhelmingly to any provocation,” Yoon said during a memorial ceremony at the Navy’s 2nd Fleet Command in Pyeongtaek, 60 kilometers south of Seoul.

“Should North Korea carry out a reckless provocation, it will pay a larger price for sure.”

Source: Yonhap News Agency