South Korea’s next defense chief threatened Friday that jets would bomb the North if it stages another attack like last week’s deadly shelling as he outlined a tough new military policy toward the rival neighbor.

President Lee Myung-bak’s government is suffering intense criticism that its response to North Korea’s Nov. 23 barrage on a South Korean island was weak, and over the stunning revelation that the South’s spy chief dismissed information in August indicating the North might attack the front-line island of Yeonpyeong.

Lee’s nominee, Kim Kwan-jin, told a parliamentary confirmation hearing that further North Korean aggression will result in airstrikes. He said South Korea will use all its combat capabilities to retaliate.

“In case the enemy attacks our territory and people again, we will thoroughly retaliate to ensure that the enemy cannot provoke again,” Kim said. The hearing is a formality as South Korea’s National Assembly does not have the power to reject Lee’s appointment.