The South Korean Defense Ministry has released a white paper. In the document, South Korea labels the DPRK government and its military an "enemy".

The South Korean media says the 2010 Defense White Paper estimates the size of the land, sea and air forces of the DPRK.

The paper also goes on to call the DPRK government and its military "an enemy", But it stops short of calling them the "main enemy" of South Korea.

The controversial "main enemy" tag, introduced in 1995, was dropped in 2004 by the previous liberal administration of Roh Moo-hyun amid the growing reconciliatory mood between the former wartime rivals.

Some South Korean media say using the tag "enemy" again may not only cause more controversy within the country, but may also stimulate the DPRK and increase tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

The DPRK's government-run website Uriminzokkiri protested Seoul's decision to describe it as an "enemy", claiming the move amounts to a "declaration of war."

Meanwhile, the South Korea Defense Ministry says it will further enhance its effort to deter military provocation of the DPRK, especially its security threats directed at western border islands and the capital region.

The South Korean military will also go through a sweeping reform, ultimately readying the military for "comprehensive security threats".