North Korea will face psychological warfare by South Korea if the communist country continues with provocations, President Park Geun-hye's defense minister nominee said Thursday.

In written answers presented to the National Assembly ahead of his confirmation hearing, Kim Byung-kwan said the South Korean military will "sternly punish the North by employing all means available," including psychological warfare.

Kim will undergo a parliamentary confirmation hearing for Park's defense minister on Friday, though there has been mounting public and media pressure for him to resign over alleged ethical lapses.

"I think launching psychological warfare is a very effective way as it undermines the North's regime the most," said Kim. 

South Korea has employed psywar tactics before like lighting a tower near the tense border with the North in bright Christmas lights and sending propaganda leaflets into the belligerent country. (Yonhap News)