South Korea's new acting president, Choi Sang-mok, said the government has ordered the military to increase its combat readiness, BTA reports.
This could increase the likelihood that North Korea will take advantage of the country's political instability and carry out provocations.
Choi, who was previously finance minister, took over on an interim basis after the impeachment of previous acting president Han Deok-soo, which has added to political uncertainty in South Korea.