South Korea is preparing for possible tougher military exercises for its troops this year to increase their readiness against North Korea amidst tensions in the Korean peninsula.

South Korean Army chief of staff Kim Sang Ki said the exercises were intended to improve the combat capabilities of ground forces.

“We will train our soldiers’ combat capabilities, so that they will be able to fight the enemy and win,” he added.

Experts felt that the image of the military in South Korea has changed since the recent attacks by the North.

South Korea’s military has been conducting exercises in a move to display its power against North Korea since the artillery attack on Yeonpyeong Island in November last year, according to Channel News Asia.