South Korea's Foreign Minister Calls for Pre-emptive Strike Against North if Threatened

South Korea's defense chief called Wednesday for a pre-emptive strike on North Korea if there is a clear indication the country is preparing a nuclear attack.

Meanwhile, a state-run think tank predicted a military coup, popular uprising, a massacre or mass defections after North Korean leader Kim Jong Il dies. Kim, who turns 68 next month, is believed to have suffered a stroke in 2008.

Seoul must be ready for a pre-emptive strike if threatened with a nuclear attack by its northern neighbour, Defence Minister Kim Tae Young said on Wednesday. “We would have to strike (North Korea) right away if we detected that it has a clear intention to attack (South Korea) with nuclear weapons,” Mr. Kim was quoted as saying by the Yonhap new agency.