South Korea to make islands into fortresses

SEOUL, South Korea -- South Korea's president is calling for five islands near the disputed sea border with North Korea to be turned into "military fortresses."

President Lee Myung-bak today instructed his Cabinet to gradually push to strengthen fortifications on the islands and to create jobs so that local residents can continue to live there.

His comments come as the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff flies to Seoul to give reassurance of the U.S. commitment to the nation.

Tensions remain high on the Korean peninsula over North Korea's artillery strike on a South Korean island near the sea border last month. The attack killed two South Korean Marines and two civilians.