South Korea's president Lee Myung-bak is vowing retaliation against the DPRK if his country is provoked again, saying he is not afraid of war with Pyongyang.

Tensions have been running high since the artillery fire exchange between the DPRK and South Korea on November 23rd. South Korea has since staged a series of military drills.

The country's military will continue its marine gunnery exercises at 23 sites around the country, during the last week of this year. The exercises will be staged at locations in waters off the country's west, south, and east coasts. But no drills are scheduled near the contentious sea border, known as the Northern Limit Line. In his address to the nation on Monday, Lee Myung-bak urged South Koreans to unite on national security, saying they must not be afraid of war.

Lee Myung-bak said, "The DPRK has misread our intentions and aspirations for peace. They have committed provocations against us without the slightest hesitation. We have now woken up to the realization that war can be prevented and peace assured, only when such provocations are met with a strong response."