Seoul, Nov. 11 South Korean troops went on high alert on Wednesday in anticipation of a possible retaliation by North Korea after one of its navy ships was nearly destroyed in a skirmish with the South the day before.

President Lee Myung-bak has ordered his Defense Minister Kim Tae-young to strengthen the military readiness of the country's 680,000-strong troops.

The clash Tuesday along the disputed western sea border was the first such engagement in seven years.

Tensions have soared in the Korean Peninsula just about a week before Obama travels to Seoul as part of his Asian tour.

South Korea's Chosun Ilbo newspaper and other media reported that one North Korean officer may have been killed in Tuesday's skirmish. It also said three other sailors may have been wounded.

Presidential security adviser Kim Sung-hwan was quoted as saying by Yonhap news agency that signs of a North Korean retaliation have not been detected, as yet. (ANI)