National Security Adviser Shin Won-sik speaks during a briefing at the presidential office in Yongsan District, Seoul, Sept. 1. Yonhap

National Security Adviser Shin Won-sik said Sunday that North Korea will not start a war unless it is contemplating suicide, and that its leader Kim Jong-un must feel fear from South Korea's military power as he has "the most to lose."

Shin made the remarks as the heightening tensions between the two divided Koreas have raised the specter among some experts of a potential outbreak of armed conflict on the Korean Peninsula, as the 1950-53 Korean War ended in an armistice, rather than a peace treaty.

"The possibility of North Korea waging a war has always existed ever since the Korean War," Shin said in an interview with public broadcaster KBS.

"Whether North Korea initiates war depends not on its intentions, but on our will and readiness. It is crucial that we have our unified efforts to ensure that North Korea cannot act on such intentions," he said.

"I believe that North Korea will not start a war unless it decides to commit suicide," Shin said.

Shin said that South Korea maintaining the capability to timely respond to any provocations by the North is what matters the most, adding that the alliance with the United States is a vital element in this vein.

"The South Korea-U.S. alliance is robust, and South Korea is strong as an advanced nation," Shin said.

Shin asserted that the North has unusually overreacted since South Korea's unveiling of the Hyunmoo-5 ballistic missile, dubbed a "monster" for its size, at the military parade in celebration of the Oct. 1 Armed Forces Day.

Shin said the Hyunmoo-5, which is 10 times more powerful than the Israeli bunker buster that killed the Hezbollah leader, should be very intimidating to Kim.

"Kim Jong-un, who controls all decision-making in North Korea, is the richest and most powerful person there," Shin said. "In other words, he should deeply fear our high-precision weapons since he has the most to lose, and is the most scared."

Regarding the North's accusation the South recently sent drones into its territory, Shin insisted the government will remain noncommittal, as addressing the issue will only stir up discord within the South and that is the exact intention of Pyongyang.

"Based on experience, the best way is to ignore (it)," Shin said. (Yonhap)